Flexible spot rinsing head for shower baths



Nov. 26, 1963 c. B. LARSON ETAL I 3,112,073

FLEXIBLE SPOT RINSING HEAD FOR SHOWER BATHS Filed Feb. 1, 1963 v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS h. cL/From e /12501: HARRY/411.7 14250 37 35 BYFig. 5 div W ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1963 c. B. LARSON ETAL 3,112,073

FLEXIBLE SPOT RINSING HEAD FOR SHOWER BATHS 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Filed Feb.1, 1963 INVENTORS. CLIFFORD B. LARSON HAPPY MILTONLARSON United StatesPatent 3,112,073 FLEXIBLE SPOT RINSING HEAD FOR SHOWER BATHS Clifford B.Larson and Harry Milton Larson, both of Chestnut Tree Hill, Oxford,Conn. Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 255,637 1 Claim. (Cl. 239-446) Thisinvention relates to bathroom fixtures, and more particularly to a 4-wayvalve attachment for connection between a standard shower arm and showerhead, and also connected to a lateral hose leading to a spot rinsinghead.

One object of the present invention is to provide a 4- way connectingunit of the above nature, having a conical recess extending part waytherethrough, within which recess is rotatably fitted a conical valvehaving three ports for selectively connecting the shower arm to theshower head and to the lateral passage leading to the rinsing head hose.

A further object is to provide a spot rinsing head which is constructedof flexible material and has an open end slot operative when the showerhead is shut off to be spread apart to produce a controlled stream forrinsing soapy water from the body.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature, which willbe simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to installand manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very efficientand durable in use.

The application is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 155,303, filed November 28, 1961 for 4-Way Shower HeadConnector Unit, which is to be abandoned.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 represents a side view, partly in section, of the complete showerinstallation, showing how the connector unit is secured to the showerarm, the shower head, and the lateral hose leading to the flexible spotrinsing head.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale, taken through thecontrol valve as it appears when the handle is set forward for a regularshower.

FIG. 4a is a similar cross-sectional view, with the handle in its upposition for spot rinsing.

FIG. 4b is a similar cross-sectional view with the handle set back forboth a regular shower and spot rinsing.

FIG. 40 is a similar cross-sectional View with the handle located indown position, with the water shut off, during the soaping operation.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the spot rinsing head.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 141indicates a curved shower arm, having an upper horizontal section asecured to the wall W of the shower bath enclosure.

The numeral 11 indicates a standard circular shower head, and thenumeral 12 indicates a hexagonal connector unit having a conical recess11a extending part way through it. The connector unit 12 is providedwith three ports for communication with the three passages of a taperedconical 4-way valve 23 rotatable therein.

The numeral 13 indicates a top internally-threaded socket for receivinga threaded lower end 14 of the curved shower arm 10. The socket 13 isconnected to the conical recess 11a of the connector unit 12 by areduced passage 15.

The numeral 16 indicates a bottom threaded cylindrical neck of theconnector unit 12, for receiving an upper 3,1 12,07 3- Patented Nov. 26,1963 "ice tapped neck 17 of the standard shower head 11, said neck 16being connected by a reduced passage 18 to the interior conical recess11a.

Provision is also made of a lateral tapped socket 19 in the connectorunit 12, which is adapted to receive a sleeve 20 having a threaded innerend 21 which is screwed into the lateral tapped socket 19. A reducedside passage 22 is provided in the unit 12 to connect the sleeve 20 withthe conical recess 11a.

The conical valve 23 which fits in the recess 11a has a longitudinalthrough passageway 24, and a lateral passageway 25 at right anglesthereto. The conical valve 23 has a reduced cylindrical section 26,which is surrounded by a pair of soft rubber O-rings 27, 28 for tightlysealing the valve 23 within the recess 11a of the connector unit 12.

In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the valve 23 in theconnector unit 12, provision is made of an exteriorly threaded stuffingbox 29 having a pair of outer wrench receiving slots 30, 30a, surroundedby a nut 32 screwed upon the threaded stufling box 29, tapped at 31, andtightly engaging the exterior of the connector unit 12.

Provision is also made of a curved handle 33 integral with the 4-wayconical valve 23 and having a series of gripping rings 34 on its outerend to facilitate the manual rotation thereof.

The numeral 35 indicates a flexible hose, preferably of plastic,connected to the outer end of the sleeve 20, as by friction, said hosebeing connected at its other end to a hollow spot rinsing head 36,preferably of flexible soft plastic, and having an elongated curved endbar 37 provided with a central slot 38. By means of this construction,when the ends of the fiat end bar 37 are squeezed inwardly, the slot 38will be spread apart to form a solid stream of water for rinsing.

The outer end of the hose 35 is surrounded by a plastic tube 38a whichis integral with the rinsing head 36. Within said rinsing head is ashort spacer tube 38b of plastic, which serves to hold the hose 35securely in position.

The hollow rinsing head 36 has a pair of forwardly diverging sides 39,40 which terminate in a pair of curved finger recesses 41, 42, betweenwhich is a semi-circular reinforcing strip 43. Strip 43 is relativelystiff with respect to the head material 36 and flexible in the sense ofbeing elastic, so as to yield under the applied pressure and restore thehead to its original shape when such pressure is released. Said striphas a central circular aperture 44 embracing the hose 35 and abuttingthe end of the tube 38b. The hose 35 is also provided with an outer rib45 which engages the forward surface of the reinforcing strip 43 to holdit in position. A plastic ring 46 embraces the inner end of the hose 35and serves to clamp said hose tightly upon the sleeve 20.

Operation In use, there are four operating conditions:

(1) With the handle 33 forward (FIG. 4), a regular shower may beobtained.

(2) With handle 33 up (FIG. 4a), a spot soap rinsing may beaccomplished.

(3) With the handle 33 back (FIG. 4b), both spot rinsing and a regularshower may occur at the same time.

(4) With the handle 33 down (FIG. 40), soaping may be accomplished, withthe water shut off.

If desired, instead of the rinsing head 36, a shower head or douchenozzle may be attached to the end of the hose 35 to permit rinsing soapfrom the body or head after a shampoo.

One advantage of the present invention is that by having the conicalvalve 23 extend only part way through the connector unit 12, a moresecure positioning of said 3 valve therein is obtained, eliminating theneed for sealing it at the opposite end, and resulting in a moreattractive appearance of said unit.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides foreasily rinsing soap from all of the difficult-toreach parts of the body.

A further advantage is that a shower may be obtained without spoiling ahair-do, and that the shower valve may be shut off during soaping, whichresults in a saving of hot water.

A further advantage is that after soaping, the original pre-settemperature of the water will be resumed when the shower valve is againturned on.

A further advantage is that the connector unit may be easily installedon an ordinary bathroom shower apparatus by the following simple steps:

(1) Remove the shower head 11 from the curved shower arm 10.

(2) Screw the connector unit 12 onto the shower arm 10 and connect thehose 35 on the lateral sleeve 20.

(3) Replace the shower head 11.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in whichthe invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form isshown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention isnot limited to the specific disclosure, but may be modified and embodiedin various other equivalent forms without departing from its spirit. Inshort, the invention includes all the modifications and embodimentscoming within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new and forwhich it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

In a bathroom shower fixture, a shower head connected to an overheadwater supply pipe, a connector unit inserted between said shower headand said supply pipe, a flexible hose connected to one side of saidconnector unit, a hollow fiat-sided spot rinsing head of soft flexiblematerial surrounding and connected to the outer end of said hose, saidspot rinsing head being provided with an elongated central slot in itsouter surface capable of spreading apart when the ends of said rinsinghead are manually squeezed toward each other, to permit the size of thespray emerging from said rinsing head to be controlled for rinsing thesoap from difiicult-to-reach parts of the body, said spot rinsing headbeing provided with an interior semicircular reinforcing and centeringmember of relatively stiff, flexible, elastic material surrounding saidhose and having its ends engaging the slotted surface of said rinsinghead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,422,291 Mulherin July 11, 1922 1,641,778 Overton Sept. 6, 19272,003,052 Lord May 28, 1935 2,118,943 Price et al. May 31, 19382,285,689 Tullis June 9, 1942 2,475,702 Funke July 12, 1949 2,588,255Larsh Mar. 4, 1952 2,891,732 Orter et a1. June 23, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS196,960 Great Britain May 7, 1923

